The Top 5 European Ski Resorts for Hot Chocolate Lovers

For many winter sports enthusiasts, one of the highlights of every ski trip is a hot chocolate on the mountain. Even Mikaela Shiffrin admits that it was this special treat on the mountain that kept her interested in skiing, stating in an interview: “I was pretty unsure about the sport for quite a few years, but I really liked hot chocolate and french fries, and that was always the snack we would have when we went skiing so then I was like maybe this isn’t so bad.”

• Related: [VIDEO] FIS Profile: Mikaela Shiffrin — The Secret to Her Success: French Fries, Hot Chocolate & Naps

While snow quality and lift infrastructure are important to most winter sports tourists, there are plenty of visitors that embrace the creature comforts on the snow. From a classic hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows to an extra-thick and creamy ‘Viennese’ hot chocolate, or even a hot chocolate with a dash of warming liqueur—there are plenty of options for a warm, indulgent treat after a long day carving down the piste. But where can seasoned skiers find the ultimate hot chocolate? Lindt UK took the opportunity to investigate which ski resorts offer the best hot chocolate in Europe. The Swiss chocolatier is renowned for creating some of the world’s best chocolate. So, it was only natural for Lindt to analyze data from almost 300 European ski resorts to determine which are the best for hot chocolate. The research focused on the average price of a hot chocolate, availability in restaurants, cafes, and bars, and finally, online review ratings. They then scored each factor individually, and every resort was assigned a ‘Lindt Ski & Sip’ score out of 100 before being ranked accordingly.   

• Related: Chocolate Snow Falls on Swiss Town After Malfunction at Lindt Factory

Based on the data, the following resorts are the top five for hot chocolate lovers based on their good quality, ease of availability, and reasonably priced cups of cocoa:

#Equal 5: Tignes, France (79.5/100)

Tignes together with Val d’Isère forms the ski area known as Espace Killy, after French ski racer Jean-Claude Killy. The combined ski area boasts 160 runs stretching across 300km (187.5 miles) and is serviced by a total of 72 ski lifts.

#Equal 5: Breuil-Cervinia, Italy (79.5/100)

Breuil-Cervinia together with Zermatt forms the cross-border ski area known as Matterhorn Ski Paradise (or, in Italian, Cervino Ski Paradise). The combined ski area offers 225 miles (360km) of groomed runs and, thanks to its glacier, offers skiing and boarding 365 days of the year.

#Equal 3: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (80/100) 

With 74 miles (120km) of trails and 36 lifts in Cortina D’Ampezzo alone, there is plenty for any level of skier to explore. Tucked away in the heart of the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is a town that has been around for a thousand years and has a lengthy ski history to go along with it. Every year, the resort is host to FIS World Cup races and in 2026 will host the Alpine events of the Winter Olympic Games.

#Equal 3: Madonna di Campiglio, Italy (80/100) 

Madonna di Campiglio is part of the Dolomiti SuperSki area, which is part of the Epic pass. Madonna alone offers 97 miles (156 kilometers) of groomed runs across the three ski areas of Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo and Folgarida-Marilleva, serviced by 62 ski lifts.

#2 Crans Montana, Switzerland (81.5/100)

Crans Montana is located in the canton of Valais in the French-speaking west of Switzerland. The resort features 87 miles (140 kilometers) of groomed runs spread across 50 pistes. The resort hosted the 1987 World Championships, will host the 2027 World Championships, and is a regular event venue on the FIS World Cup circuit. Crans Montana was bought by Vail Resorts in 2023.

#1  Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland (83.5/100)

Villars-sur-Ollon is located in the heart of the Vaudoises Alps of Switzerland. Together with Gryon and Les Diablerets the resort offers a combined ski area of more than 81 miles (130 kilometers) of groomed runs.

It is only fitting that Switzerland, the land known as the inventor of chocolate, and home to Lindt’s headquarters, took away the coveted number-one spot. Sophie Adams, Digital Content Marketing Manager from Lindt UK said: “Villars-sur-Ollon topped our research not only for its stunning Swiss scenery but also for delivering good quality hot chocolate at a reasonable price, making it the ultimate destination for cocoa lovers seeking a memorable après-ski experience.”  The full research of almost 300 European ski resorts can be found here.